Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 21, 2026

Tiroa

Tiroa is a rural locality in the Waitomo District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. State Highway 30 runs through the area. The name means "tall cabbage tree".

Last revised
Jun 21, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
638 w
Citations
23
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Tiroa
Rural locality
Map
Interactive map of Tiroa
Coordinates: 38°31′S 175°31′E / 38.51°S 175.51°E / -38.51; 175.51
CountryNew Zealand
RegionManawatū-Whanganui region
DistrictWaitomo District
WardWaitomo Rural Ward
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial AuthorityWaitomo District Council
 • Regional councilManawatū-Whanganui Regional Council
 • Mayor of WaitomoJohn Robertson1
 • Taranaki-King Country MPBarbara Kuriger2
 • Hauraki-Waikato MPHana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke3
Area
4
 • Total
182.32 km2 (70.39 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2025)5
 • Total
50
 • Density0.27/km2 (0.71/sq mi)
Postcode(s)
3982

Tiroa is a rural locality in the Waitomo District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. State Highway 30 runs through the area.6 The name means "tall cabbage tree".7

Pao Mīere, a Māori prophetic movement, built a cross-shaped whare wānanga (house of learning) called Te Miringa Te Kakara near Tiroa about 1887. It was destroyed by fire in 1983.8910

Tiroa School operated from about 19001112 with the buildings replaced in 1925.12 The school was open at least until 1958.13

Demographics

Tiroa covers 182.32 km2 (70.39 sq mi)4 and had an estimated population of 50 as of June 2025,5 with a population density of 0.27 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
200684—    
201351−6.88%
201842−3.81%
202345+1.39%
Source: 1415

Tiroa had a population of 45 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 3 people (7.1%) since the 2018 census, and a decrease of 6 people (−11.8%) since the 2013 census. There were 27 males and 18 females in 21 dwellings.16 The median age was 41.4 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 3 people (6.7%) aged under 15 years, 12 (26.7%) aged 15 to 29, 21 (46.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 9 (20.0%) aged 65 or older.14

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 40.0% European (Pākehā), and 73.3% Māori. English was spoken by 100.0%, Māori by 26.7%, and Samoan by 6.7%. New Zealand Sign Language was known by 6.7%. The percentage of people born overseas was 13.3, compared with 28.8% nationally.14

Religious affiliations were 20.0% Christian, and 13.3% Māori religious beliefs. People who answered that they had no religion were 53.3%, and 13.3% of people did not answer the census question.14

Of those at least 15 years old, 30 (71.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 12 (28.6%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $39,700, compared with $41,500 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was 18 (42.9%) full-time, 6 (14.3%) part-time, and 3 (7.1%) unemployed.14

References

References

  1. "2025 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result" (PDF). Electionz. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
  2. "Taranaki-King Country - Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  3. "Hauraki-Waikato – Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  4. "Stats NZ Geographic Data Service". Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised). Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  5. "Subnational population estimates - Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  6. Hariss, Gavin. "Tiroa, Manawatu-Wanganui". topomap.co.nz. NZ Topo Map.
  7. Discover New Zealand - A Wises Guide (9th ed.). Wises Publications. 1994. p. 146.
  8. "Miringa Te Kakara (Tiroa, N.Z)". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  9. Binney, Judith (5 May 2011). "Miringa Te Kakara cruciform house". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  10. Pollock, Kerryn (1 March 2015). "King Country places–Benneydale–Prophetic movement". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  11. "Board of Education". Auckland Star. 20 September 1905.
  12. "Opening of New School at Tiroa". King Country Chronicle. 23 May 1925.
  13. "Pet Kia, Tiroa School, Te Miringa, and fish". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  14. "Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Tiroa (187600). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  15. "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Tiroa (187600). 2018 Census place summary: Tiroa
  16. "Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses". Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer. Retrieved 3 October 2024.